Fire-escape



(No Model.)

H. WOODWARD.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 550,310.

Patented Nov, 26 1895. v

M. PHOTO-UTHQWASHINGTUMDB.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY YVOODWVARD, OF SYLVANIA, WVISCONSIN.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,310, dated November 26, 1895. Application filed February 18, 1895. I Serial No. 538,171. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WooDwARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sylvania, in the countyof Racine and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to fire-escapes and it consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully set forth hereinafter and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved device in position for use. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the interior of the room with which my said device is connected. Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal section through the chute. Fig. 4 is a detail view of part of the upper portion of said chute. Fig. 5 is a detail View showing the manner of supporting the cross-bar of the device within a room.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a long bag or chute formed, preferably, of stout canvas, which may be of two parts stitched together at each side, as indicated by the seam a in Fig. 3, at some little distance from the side edges, so that next these seams bindin ropes b b may be placed between the projecting edges of the canvas, and the latter then again securely stitched, forming the seams o. By this means a flexible strengthening-rib is formed along each side of the said chute, as indicated by d cl. The top of this chute A is brought around a large strong iron ring B and securely stitched, as indicated by the seam e in Fig. 4, and from this ring there extend upward two eyebolts O C. This chute A is continuous to within about eight or ten feet of its lower end, at which point it is open on the upper or outer side to form a flexible receiving table or platform D, having flexible sides f f, the upper edges of said side pieces and the base of the upperorouter part and the lines between said sides and table being guarded and strengthened by binding-ropes g h, loops in which at proper intervals form convenient handles 2' j.

E represents a rope ladder, secured at top and bottom to the outside of the chute A, as shown.

On the inner sides of the window-casings of the structure to which my device is to be applied are secured open-topped metallic keepersor loops is it to receive and support the cross-bar F, from which depend the hooks m m, secured within the eyes of the bolts 0 C, that rise from the ring B at the top of the chute A. An eyebolt n is secured to the center of this cross-bar F, to which is connected one end of a ropeG, which passes up and around a sheave or pulley in a block H, which latter is secured to a joist 0 of the ceiling in the upper room of the described structure, said rope thence passing downward, as shown.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoing description of its construction, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It is to be understood that when not in use the chute A is rolled up and the rope G is coiled up (but with the bar F in place within the keepers k and the rope G around the pulley H, as shown) and kept all ready for use just beneath the window-sill within the upper room of the described structure, and that the window-casings of the windows in vertical line therewith in the stories beneath this upper room are all provided with similar keep-v ers k it. Now if fire breaks out all that is necessary is for those in this upper room to raise the window and throw out the chute and coil of rope to the ground. The people on the sidewalk will then take hold of the ropehandles 2' j and stretch out part or table D of said chute horizontally, with the main or tubular part of the chute A inclined at a suitable angle away from the building, as shown. The people in this upper room or story will then, one after another, climb into the chute (the described top ring B keeping the mouth of the chute sufficiently open for this purpose) and slide down the same onto the receiving table or platform D. Should any one find it difficult to get into the chute, then some one from below can run up the rope ladder E to that partys assistance. I deem it of especial importance that this rope ladder E should be secured only at the top and bottom to said chute, as stated, and that said chute should be a continuous closed bag or the lower open cylinder for the entire distance of said rope ladder, for these reasons: First, so that any one sliding down within said chute shall find a smooth closed passage and not be in any danger of catching or interference 011 account of the rope ladder, as might happen if the chute was partly open at any point where said ladder was employed; and, second, if anyperson should be on the ladder at the time so that the weight of the person inside the chute would force the said chute away from the ladder and thereby avoid such catching or intcrference. \Vhen all are out of this upper story, the rope G is pulled from below, which raises the cross-bar F out of the keepers 71; 7c, and the chute A is given a quarter-tnrn,which will bring the cross-bar F out through the open window, whence it can be readily lowered by means of the rope G till it is opposite the window just below, and the people at that window can easily grasp it and draw it into the room and slip it to place within the keepers 7t 71; of the window-casing, and the described operation can be repeated until all are rescued.

It will be understood that the rope G may be a wire rope, if desired, to guard against danger from fire, but as the whole operation need consume but very little time any suitable stout rope will ordinarily answer the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a fire escape, a tubular canvas chute formed of two pieces stitched together at some little distance within their side edges, and having bindin ropes secured along the said seams within the projecting side edges, and held in place by additional rows of stitching, forming flexible side strengthening ribs, said chute terminating in an open flexible extension forming a receiving table or platform, with side-pieces stitched thereto, and strengthened by binding ropes, secured to said extension and looped at proper intervals, to form handles, substantially as set forth.

I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing I have here unto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Viscousin, in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY \=V()OD\VARD.

\Vitnesses II. G. UNnERwooD, C. V. SCOTT. 

